How a ski mountaineering race works

1. Ski mountaineering is a race up and down mountains on skis.
2. Athletes climb on skis with skins stuck to the bases, carry the skis on their backpack up steep foot sections, then strip the skins and ski down.
3. Flags tell them how to move: green for skis with skins, yellow for on foot, red for skiing down. Every change happens in a transition area.
4. In the sprint, heats of six race a short loop and the first across the line go through. The first across the finish wins.

How long

The best sprinters take 2 minutes 30 seconds to 4 minutes 30 seconds a loop. The winner of an individual race takes at least an hour and a quarter.